Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 2009
Mitral annular velocity may be measured angle independently by speckle tracking echocardiography ... more Mitral annular velocity may be measured angle independently by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), in contrast with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The purpose of the current study was to compare STE and TDI, with respect to 1) the accuracy of velocity measurements in a moving phantom, 2) the feasibility and reproducibility of measurement of mitral annular velocities in a clinical setting, and 3) the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures using mitral annular velocities. The velocity of a moving phantom, using different angles of insonation, and mitral annular velocities of 80 nonselected patients and 50 healthy volunteers were determined using TDI and STE. A subgroup of 20 patients was studied during right-sided heart catheterization. When the motion direction of the phantom was parallel to the ultrasound beam, both TDI and STE determined velocities accurately. With increasing angle of insonation, TDI-derived velocity decreased, whereas STE-derived velocity remained unchanged. The feasibility of mitral annular velocities measured by TDI and STE was comparable (98% vs 95%, P = not significant). Although for both techniques correlations between measured mitral annular velocities at repeated examinations were good, the test-retest variability of mitral annular velocities by TDI was higher. E/Em ratio by STE correlated better to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (R(2) = 0.51, P < .001) compared with E/Em ratio derived from TDI (R(2) = 0.35, P < .01), although the difference in correlation was not statistically significant because of the limited sample size. Tissue velocities can be accurately determined by STE in a moving phantom and are angle independent, in contrast with TDI measurements. Furthermore, STE is a feasible and better reproducible method for the assessment of mitral annular velocities in a clinical setting.
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 2011
The diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) remains subject to controversy. Because NCCM... more The diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) remains subject to controversy. Because NCCM is probably caused by an intrauterine arrest of the myocardial fiber compaction during embryogenesis, it may be anticipated that the myocardial fiber helices, normally causing left ventricular (LV) twist, will also not develop properly. The resultant LV rigid body rotation (RBR) may strengthen the diagnosis of NCCM. The purpose of the current study was to explore the diagnostic value of RBR in a large group of patients with prominent trabeculations. The study comprised 15 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 52 healthy subjects, and 52 patients with prominent trabeculations, of whom a clinical expert in NCCM defined 34 as having NCCM. LV rotation patterns were determined by speckle-tracking echocardiography and defined as follows: pattern 1A, completely normal rotation (initial counterclockwise basal and clockwise apical rotation, followed by end-systolic clockwise basal and counterclockwise apical rotation); pattern 1B, partly normal rotation (normal end-systolic rotation but absence of initial rotation in the other direction); and pattern 2, RBR (rotation at the basal and apical level predominantly in the same direction). The majority of normal subjects had LV rotation pattern 1A (98%), whereas the 18 subjects with hypertrabeculation not fulfilling diagnostic criteria for NCCM predominantly had pattern 1B (71%), and the 34 patients with NCCM predominantly had pattern 2 (88%). None of the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy showed RBR. Sensitivity and specificity of RBR for differentiating NCCM from "hypertrabeculation" were 88% and 78%, respectively. RBR is an objective, quantitative, and reproducible functional criterion with good predictive value for the diagnosis of NCCM as determined by expert opinion.
Although safety and feasibility studies have been published, there are few reports dedicated to t... more Although safety and feasibility studies have been published, there are few reports dedicated to the echocardiographic evaluation of patients following percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR). This report describes the early echocardiographic evaluation of patients undergoing PAVR with the CoreValve Revalving System. The population consisted of 33 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who underwent successful PAVR. Echocardiograms were performed pre-treatment (123+/-110 days prior), post-treatment (6+/-2 days) and post-discharge (80+/-64 days). Aortic valve function and left ventricular dimensions, systolic and diastolic function were assessed pre- and post-implantation. The mean age was 81+/-7 years and the mean Logistic Euroscore was 20+/-12. Following PAVR, the mean transaortic valve gradient decreased (46+/-16 mmHg pre-treatment vs. 12+/-7 mmHg post-treatment vs. 9+/-5 mmHg post-discharge, p<0.001) and the mean effective orifice area increased (0.75+/-0.23 cm2 pre-treatment vs. 1.97+/-0.85 cm2 post-treatment vs. 1.72+/-0.45 cm2 post-discharge, p<0.001). There was no significant change in mean ejection fraction (41+/-12% pre-treatment vs. 46+/-15% post-treatment vs. 44+/-13% post-discharge, p=0.44). Approximately two-thirds of patients had no change in diastolic function at follow-up. Following implantation, there was a sustained decrease in aortic valve gradient and increase in aortic valve area. In addition, the mean ejection fraction did not change significantly and in the majority of patients, diastolic function was unchanged.
The aim of this study was to assess the presence of evidence of ventricular mechanical dyssynchro... more The aim of this study was to assess the presence of evidence of ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (IVNC) and the potential usefulness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in those patients. We studied 25 patients consecutively diagnosed with IVNC and a control group of 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of different etiologies. Mechanical dyssynchrony was assessed by echocardiography by the presence of a septal flash, the time from peak septal to posterior wall displacement, and the time from septal to lateral wall peak systolic velocity. Among the patients with IVNC, 9 received CRT and were followed at 12 months. Overall, dyssynchrony parameters were significantly more frequent in IVNC, regardless of QRS duration. All 9 IVNC patients treated with CRT showed a septal flash, and a favorable response was observed in 8/9 patients (89%) regardless of QRS width. The presence of mechanical dyssynchrony, amenable to correction with CRT, is common in patients with IVNC, independently from QRS width. This might be related to altered electrical endocardial activation associated with abnormal myocardium and could be the justification for the high response rate to CRT observed in these patients.
The dynamic interaction between subendocardial and subepicardial fibre helices in the left ventri... more The dynamic interaction between subendocardial and subepicardial fibre helices in the left ventricle (LV) leads to a twisting deformation, which has an important role in LV function. This study sought to assess the influence of cardiac shape on LV twist in the normal and dilated human heart. The study comprised 45 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and 60 for age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Speckle tracking echocardiography was used to determine basal and apical LV peak systolic rotation (Rot(max)) and instantaneous LV peak systolic twist (Twist(max)). LV sphericity index was calculated by dividing the LV maximal long-axis internal dimension by the maximal short-axis internal dimension at end-diastole. A parabolic relation between the sphericity index and apical Rot(max) or Twist(max) was identified in the total study population (R(2) = 0.56 and R(2) = 0.54, respectively; both P < 0.001) and healthy volunteers (R(2) = 0.39 and R(2) = 0.25, respectively; both P < 0.001), whereas these relations were linear in DCM patients (R(2) = 0.40 and R(2) = 0.43, respectively; both P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, LV sphericity index was the strongest independent predictor of apical Rot(max) and Twist(max). In conclusion, LV apical rotation and twist are significantly influenced by LV configuration. Taking the important function of LV twist into account, this finding highlights the vital influence of cardiac shape on LV systolic function.
European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging, 2013
This study sought to investigate regional left ventricular (LV) rotation in patients with hypertr... more This study sought to investigate regional left ventricular (LV) rotation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The study comprised 44 patients with HCM with a typical reverse septal curvature (age 40 ± 14 years, 33 men) and 44 healthy volunteers (age 39 ± 14 years, 32 men) in whom LV rotation could be assessed at the basal and apical LV level with speckle-tracking echocardiography, using the QLAB Advanced Quantification Software version 6.0 (Philips, Best, The Netherlands). In HCM patients, lower values of initial counter-clockwise rotation at the basal LV level (1.5 ± 1.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.9°, P < 0.001) were seen, in particular in the septal segment (1.7 ± 1.6 vs. 0.4 ± 0.7°, P < 0.001). After this period, the direction of rotation changed to clockwise with a peak basal rotation of -4.8 ± 2.0° in controls vs. -6.1 ± 2.5° in HCM patients (P < 0.05). Peak basal rotation in HCM patients was in particular higher in the anterior (-6.6 ± 3.0 vs. -4.4 ± 2.4°, P < 0.01...
Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the mitral annulus has been proposed as an alternative for the id... more Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the mitral annulus has been proposed as an alternative for the identification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) genetically affected subjects without left ventricular hypertrophy (G+/LVH-). Unfortunately, conflicting results have been described in the literature, potentially caused by the angle-dependency of TDI. This study sought to assess abnormalities in mitral annular velocities in G+/LVH- subjects as detected by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). The study population consisted of 23 consecutive genotyped family members without major or minor criteria for the diagnosis of HCM (mean age 37 ± 13 years, 9 men) and 23 healthy volunteers (age 38 ± 12 years, 12 men) who prospectively underwent STE. There were no significant differences in global peak systolic annular velocity (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 7.1 ± 1.0 cm/sec) and early diastolic annular velocity (10.2 ± 2.5 vs. 11.3 ± 2.2 cm/sec) between G+/LVH- and control subjects. Global peak late diastolic annular velocity was higher in G+/LVH- subjects (8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 5.7 ± 1.1 cm/sec, P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). Regionally, this difference was seen in all 6 studied LV walls. This STE study confirms our previous TDI observations on increased peak late diastolic annular velocities in G+/LVH- subjects. Because of the complete overlap in early diastolic annular velocities this parameter cannot be used in the genotypes we studied to differentiate genotype (+) from genotype (-) individuals.
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 2009
Mitral annular velocity may be measured angle independently by speckle tracking echocardiography ... more Mitral annular velocity may be measured angle independently by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), in contrast with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). The purpose of the current study was to compare STE and TDI, with respect to 1) the accuracy of velocity measurements in a moving phantom, 2) the feasibility and reproducibility of measurement of mitral annular velocities in a clinical setting, and 3) the estimation of left ventricular filling pressures using mitral annular velocities. The velocity of a moving phantom, using different angles of insonation, and mitral annular velocities of 80 nonselected patients and 50 healthy volunteers were determined using TDI and STE. A subgroup of 20 patients was studied during right-sided heart catheterization. When the motion direction of the phantom was parallel to the ultrasound beam, both TDI and STE determined velocities accurately. With increasing angle of insonation, TDI-derived velocity decreased, whereas STE-derived velocity remained unchanged. The feasibility of mitral annular velocities measured by TDI and STE was comparable (98% vs 95%, P = not significant). Although for both techniques correlations between measured mitral annular velocities at repeated examinations were good, the test-retest variability of mitral annular velocities by TDI was higher. E/Em ratio by STE correlated better to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (R(2) = 0.51, P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001) compared with E/Em ratio derived from TDI (R(2) = 0.35, P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .01), although the difference in correlation was not statistically significant because of the limited sample size. Tissue velocities can be accurately determined by STE in a moving phantom and are angle independent, in contrast with TDI measurements. Furthermore, STE is a feasible and better reproducible method for the assessment of mitral annular velocities in a clinical setting.
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 2011
The diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) remains subject to controversy. Because NCCM... more The diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) remains subject to controversy. Because NCCM is probably caused by an intrauterine arrest of the myocardial fiber compaction during embryogenesis, it may be anticipated that the myocardial fiber helices, normally causing left ventricular (LV) twist, will also not develop properly. The resultant LV rigid body rotation (RBR) may strengthen the diagnosis of NCCM. The purpose of the current study was to explore the diagnostic value of RBR in a large group of patients with prominent trabeculations. The study comprised 15 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, 52 healthy subjects, and 52 patients with prominent trabeculations, of whom a clinical expert in NCCM defined 34 as having NCCM. LV rotation patterns were determined by speckle-tracking echocardiography and defined as follows: pattern 1A, completely normal rotation (initial counterclockwise basal and clockwise apical rotation, followed by end-systolic clockwise basal and counterclockwise apical rotation); pattern 1B, partly normal rotation (normal end-systolic rotation but absence of initial rotation in the other direction); and pattern 2, RBR (rotation at the basal and apical level predominantly in the same direction). The majority of normal subjects had LV rotation pattern 1A (98%), whereas the 18 subjects with hypertrabeculation not fulfilling diagnostic criteria for NCCM predominantly had pattern 1B (71%), and the 34 patients with NCCM predominantly had pattern 2 (88%). None of the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy showed RBR. Sensitivity and specificity of RBR for differentiating NCCM from &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;hypertrabeculation&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; were 88% and 78%, respectively. RBR is an objective, quantitative, and reproducible functional criterion with good predictive value for the diagnosis of NCCM as determined by expert opinion.
Although safety and feasibility studies have been published, there are few reports dedicated to t... more Although safety and feasibility studies have been published, there are few reports dedicated to the echocardiographic evaluation of patients following percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR). This report describes the early echocardiographic evaluation of patients undergoing PAVR with the CoreValve Revalving System. The population consisted of 33 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who underwent successful PAVR. Echocardiograms were performed pre-treatment (123+/-110 days prior), post-treatment (6+/-2 days) and post-discharge (80+/-64 days). Aortic valve function and left ventricular dimensions, systolic and diastolic function were assessed pre- and post-implantation. The mean age was 81+/-7 years and the mean Logistic Euroscore was 20+/-12. Following PAVR, the mean transaortic valve gradient decreased (46+/-16 mmHg pre-treatment vs. 12+/-7 mmHg post-treatment vs. 9+/-5 mmHg post-discharge, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) and the mean effective orifice area increased (0.75+/-0.23 cm2 pre-treatment vs. 1.97+/-0.85 cm2 post-treatment vs. 1.72+/-0.45 cm2 post-discharge, p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). There was no significant change in mean ejection fraction (41+/-12% pre-treatment vs. 46+/-15% post-treatment vs. 44+/-13% post-discharge, p=0.44). Approximately two-thirds of patients had no change in diastolic function at follow-up. Following implantation, there was a sustained decrease in aortic valve gradient and increase in aortic valve area. In addition, the mean ejection fraction did not change significantly and in the majority of patients, diastolic function was unchanged.
The aim of this study was to assess the presence of evidence of ventricular mechanical dyssynchro... more The aim of this study was to assess the presence of evidence of ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (IVNC) and the potential usefulness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in those patients. We studied 25 patients consecutively diagnosed with IVNC and a control group of 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of different etiologies. Mechanical dyssynchrony was assessed by echocardiography by the presence of a septal flash, the time from peak septal to posterior wall displacement, and the time from septal to lateral wall peak systolic velocity. Among the patients with IVNC, 9 received CRT and were followed at 12 months. Overall, dyssynchrony parameters were significantly more frequent in IVNC, regardless of QRS duration. All 9 IVNC patients treated with CRT showed a septal flash, and a favorable response was observed in 8/9 patients (89%) regardless of QRS width. The presence of mechanical dyssynchrony, amenable to correction with CRT, is common in patients with IVNC, independently from QRS width. This might be related to altered electrical endocardial activation associated with abnormal myocardium and could be the justification for the high response rate to CRT observed in these patients.
The dynamic interaction between subendocardial and subepicardial fibre helices in the left ventri... more The dynamic interaction between subendocardial and subepicardial fibre helices in the left ventricle (LV) leads to a twisting deformation, which has an important role in LV function. This study sought to assess the influence of cardiac shape on LV twist in the normal and dilated human heart. The study comprised 45 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and 60 for age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Speckle tracking echocardiography was used to determine basal and apical LV peak systolic rotation (Rot(max)) and instantaneous LV peak systolic twist (Twist(max)). LV sphericity index was calculated by dividing the LV maximal long-axis internal dimension by the maximal short-axis internal dimension at end-diastole. A parabolic relation between the sphericity index and apical Rot(max) or Twist(max) was identified in the total study population (R(2) = 0.56 and R(2) = 0.54, respectively; both P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001) and healthy volunteers (R(2) = 0.39 and R(2) = 0.25, respectively; both P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001), whereas these relations were linear in DCM patients (R(2) = 0.40 and R(2) = 0.43, respectively; both P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, LV sphericity index was the strongest independent predictor of apical Rot(max) and Twist(max). In conclusion, LV apical rotation and twist are significantly influenced by LV configuration. Taking the important function of LV twist into account, this finding highlights the vital influence of cardiac shape on LV systolic function.
European heart journal cardiovascular Imaging, 2013
This study sought to investigate regional left ventricular (LV) rotation in patients with hypertr... more This study sought to investigate regional left ventricular (LV) rotation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The study comprised 44 patients with HCM with a typical reverse septal curvature (age 40 ± 14 years, 33 men) and 44 healthy volunteers (age 39 ± 14 years, 32 men) in whom LV rotation could be assessed at the basal and apical LV level with speckle-tracking echocardiography, using the QLAB Advanced Quantification Software version 6.0 (Philips, Best, The Netherlands). In HCM patients, lower values of initial counter-clockwise rotation at the basal LV level (1.5 ± 1.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.9°, P < 0.001) were seen, in particular in the septal segment (1.7 ± 1.6 vs. 0.4 ± 0.7°, P < 0.001). After this period, the direction of rotation changed to clockwise with a peak basal rotation of -4.8 ± 2.0° in controls vs. -6.1 ± 2.5° in HCM patients (P < 0.05). Peak basal rotation in HCM patients was in particular higher in the anterior (-6.6 ± 3.0 vs. -4.4 ± 2.4°, P < 0.01...
Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the mitral annulus has been proposed as an alternative for the id... more Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the mitral annulus has been proposed as an alternative for the identification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) genetically affected subjects without left ventricular hypertrophy (G+/LVH-). Unfortunately, conflicting results have been described in the literature, potentially caused by the angle-dependency of TDI. This study sought to assess abnormalities in mitral annular velocities in G+/LVH- subjects as detected by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). The study population consisted of 23 consecutive genotyped family members without major or minor criteria for the diagnosis of HCM (mean age 37 ± 13 years, 9 men) and 23 healthy volunteers (age 38 ± 12 years, 12 men) who prospectively underwent STE. There were no significant differences in global peak systolic annular velocity (7.4 ± 1.2 vs. 7.1 ± 1.0 cm/sec) and early diastolic annular velocity (10.2 ± 2.5 vs. 11.3 ± 2.2 cm/sec) between G+/LVH- and control subjects. Global peak late diastolic annular velocity was higher in G+/LVH- subjects (8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 5.7 ± 1.1 cm/sec, P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). Regionally, this difference was seen in all 6 studied LV walls. This STE study confirms our previous TDI observations on increased peak late diastolic annular velocities in G+/LVH- subjects. Because of the complete overlap in early diastolic annular velocities this parameter cannot be used in the genotypes we studied to differentiate genotype (+) from genotype (-) individuals.
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